Chapter 282: Chaos

(The Imperial Court)

Jack Sullivan saw it first.

The moment Duke Drew Dawnriver rose from his seat and threatened Investigator Robin Crusoe, a sly grin spread across Prime Minister Vinicius’s face, sending an uncomfortable chill down Jack’s spine.

It was a fleeting expression, disappearing almost as quickly as it had appeared, yet Jack had spent enough years investigating criminals to recognize the satisfaction of someone whose plans were unfolding perfectly.

’So that was his intention all along.’

Jack realized, his eyes widening slightly as the pieces of the conspiracy finally began falling into place.

’This trial was never about proving Riven Dawnriver guilty. It was about making Duke Drew Dawnriver appear disloyal to the Imperial throne.’

The realization struck him with considerable force, particularly when he recalled how Vinicius had deliberately allowed Robin Crusoe to introduce the subject of Riven’s ancestry.

The Prime Minister had known that Drew would never tolerate such an accusation, and by provoking him before hundreds of nobles, he had created the perfect opportunity to undermine the Eastern Duke’s standing.

’They aren’t trying to defeat him through evidence. They’re trying to make him condemn himself through his own actions.’

Jack thought, watching the Imperial guards tighten their grips upon their weapons as the atmosphere within the courtroom grew increasingly hostile.

"No, Duke Drew, the one who needs to watch his mouth is you!"

A commanding voice suddenly rang out from amongst the nobles, drawing everyone’s attention towards Duke John Winterfang, the powerful lord of the Northern territories.

"Do not forget where you are standing! This is the Imperial Court of the Valdrak Empire, not your precious White Castle, where you can threaten whoever displeases you!"

The Northern Duke declared, his expression darkening as several nobles immediately voiced their agreement with his reprimand.

Drew turned towards Winterfang with narrowed eyes, although before he could respond, Emperor Diomande slowly rose from his throne and looked down upon the gathering.

The movement immediately silenced the surrounding nobles, as even the Imperial guards lowered their weapons slightly while awaiting their sovereign’s response.

"Duke Drew Dawnriver, I would ask that you show some consideration for my honor before allowing your temper to dictate your actions."

Diomande declared, his voice remaining measured despite the unmistakable displeasure reflected in his expression.

"You stand within my Imperial Court, before the highest nobles of this Empire, and threatening an investigator who is carrying out his appointed duties is entirely unacceptable."

The Emperor’s reprimand was met with murmurs of agreement, as several nobles nodded approvingly while others directed openly disapproving glances towards the Eastern Duke.

For a moment, Drew remained standing without responding, his cold gaze moving between Emperor Diomande and Robin Crusoe as he considered his next words.

However, even he understood that openly challenging the Emperor’s authority before the assembled court would only worsen an already delicate situation.

And so, after several tense moments, Drew inclined his head in the shallowest bow imaginable, offering the Imperial throne a gesture of respect that barely concealed his irritation.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, the direction this investigator is taking has absolutely nothing to do with the murders we are supposed to be examining."

Drew replied, his voice remaining controlled despite the anger simmering beneath his outward composure.

"My son stands accused of murdering twenty-one students, yet instead of presenting evidence concerning those deaths, this man has begun making insinuations about his ancestry and the legitimacy of his birth."

He paused briefly, allowing his gaze to settle upon Robin Crusoe before continuing with considerably greater emphasis.

"For someone to question my son’s lineage before the entire Imperial Court is an insult to House Dawnriver, and I will not tolerate such accusations being thrown around without consequence."

Drew declared, turning his attention back towards Emperor Diomande as he concluded his defense.

"I am not questioning Your Majesty’s honor by defending my own, and I trust that the Imperial Court understands the difference between those two matters."

The response drew mixed reactions from the gathering, as some nobles appeared sympathetic towards Drew’s position while others considered his words another example of his arrogance.

Meanwhile, Robin Crusoe glanced towards Prime Minister Vinicius, who offered him a barely perceptible nod, signaling that he should continue without yielding to the Eastern Duke’s intimidation.

Robin understood the instruction immediately, and a faint chuckle escaped his lips as he turned towards Drew with an expression of almost theatrical confusion.

"But why shouldn’t I question his lineage, Your Grace?"

Robin asked, his voice carrying clearly throughout the courtroom as he gestured towards Riven Dawnriver.

"Why should an Imperial investigator be forbidden from examining an obvious possibility simply because the conclusions might prove uncomfortable for a powerful noble family?"

He allowed the question to linger before raising one hand towards Drew, inviting the assembled nobles to consider the Eastern Duke’s appearance.

"Your Grace, you possess remarkably distinctive blue eyes, and according to the genealogical records maintained concerning House Dawnriver, three of your sons inherited that same characteristic."

Robin continued, slowly turning his attention towards Riven, whose emerald-green eyes stood in unmistakable contrast to those of his supposed father.

"Yet your youngest son possesses striking emerald-green eyes, a characteristic repeatedly associated with the ancient Stormborn bloodline in numerous surviving historical accounts."

A few nobles exchanged curious glances, although Robin continued speaking before anyone could interrupt the direction of his argument.

"Of course, eye color alone would hardly constitute sufficient grounds for questioning someone’s ancestry, particularly when such characteristics can occasionally emerge unexpectedly within established noble families."

Robin acknowledged, offering Drew a courteous smile that did little to conceal the deliberate provocation behind his words.

"However, the similarities do not end there, Your Grace, and I believe the remaining circumstances make this particular coincidence considerably more difficult to dismiss."

He raised another finger, drawing attention towards the second point he intended to establish before the assembled court.

"You are renowned throughout the Empire for your extraordinary mastery over Flame and Darkness Aether, abilities that have earned you the title of the Flame of the East."

Robin declared, his voice growing increasingly confident as he began connecting the details that had been carefully assembled for his testimony.

"Yet your son possesses an exceptional affinity for Storm Aether, so extraordinary that the Imperial Academy’s appraisal apparatus was incapable of accurately measuring its upper limits."

The revelation provoked another wave of murmuring, particularly amongst nobles who had been unaware of the remarkable results recorded during Riven’s admission examination.

"An affinity of such magnitude is exceedingly rare, Your Grace, and when combined with the boy’s unusual physical characteristics, it raises questions that any reasonable investigator would be obligated to examine."

Robin continued, lifting Sky-Cleaver slightly as he prepared to introduce the final element of his argument.

"And then, of course, we have this remarkable weapon, which your son personally selected from the Dawnriver armory after claiming that he experienced an inexplicable connection with it."

He turned the halberd slightly, allowing the light falling through the courtroom’s towering windows to illuminate its distinctive blade and carefully forged metalwork.

"According to Sir Roderick’s professional assessment, its construction closely resembles weapons historically associated with prominent Stormborn warriors, whose ancestral abilities allowed them to harness such armaments with exceptional effectiveness."

Robin paused, allowing the assembled nobles to consider the implications of the three observations he had now placed before them.

"So, Your Grace, we have a young man possessing the distinctive green eyes associated with the Stormborn, an extraordinary Storm affinity unlike anything recorded within your immediate family, and a natural connection with a weapon designed around their ancient fighting traditions."

He lowered Sky-Cleaver slightly before directing his gaze towards Drew, whose expression had grown increasingly dangerous throughout the investigator’s explanation.

"And yet, despite these rather extraordinary coincidences, you insist that I have absolutely no grounds upon which to question the young lord’s ancestry?"

Robin asked, his tone remaining outwardly respectful even as the challenge concealed within his words became unmistakable.

"I find that position rather difficult to accept, Your Grace, particularly when my responsibility is to examine every possibility relevant to the circumstances surrounding this investigation."

For several moments, Robin allowed the silence to stretch, ensuring that every noble within the chamber was listening before he delivered his conclusion.

"Therefore, based on everything I have already said so far, I have every right to suspect that Riven Dawnriver is actually a STORMBORN!"

The declaration sent a shockwave through the Imperial Court, as hundreds of nobles erupted into furious discussion while several prominent figures rose from their seats in disbelief.

Some demanded further evidence, while others turned towards Drew with expressions ranging from astonishment to suspicion, suddenly questioning everything they believed they knew about his youngest son.

Jack remained motionless amidst the growing uproar, his gaze shifting between Robin Crusoe and the Prime Minister, whose satisfied expression confirmed that the accusation had achieved precisely what he intended.

And as the courtroom descended into chaos, Jack finally understood that the question of Riven Dawnriver’s guilt had become secondary to something far more dangerous.

The Imperial government had just publicly challenged the legitimacy of the Eastern Duke’s son.